Trio up for top coach award

Richard Cockerill, Steve Diamond and Mark McCall are on the shortlist for Director of Rugby of the Season, it's been confirmed.

Richard Cockerill, Steve Diamond and Mark McCall make up a three-man shortlist for Director of Rugby of the Season, Premiership Rugby revealed.

Last year's winner McCall, the Director of Rugby at current leaders, Saracens, is joined by Cockerill (Leicester Tigers) and Diamond (Sale Sharks).

"We are very fortunate in Aviva Premiership Rugby to have some of the best coaches in the world but that ensured the judging panel had a tough job," said Phil Winstanley the Rugby Director at Premiership Rugby.

"All three on the shortlist were presented with their own different challenges and have led their clubs into next season's European Rugby Champions Cup.

"Mark has managed a superb season for Saracens leading the charge at the top of Aviva Premiership Rugby and steering his side into a Heineken Cup Final whilst Richard has had a tough season losing numerous players to injury yet picking up significant momentum going into the end of season and narrowly missing out in Clermont in a fantastic Heineken Cup quarter final.

"Steve has had a massive impact in different circumstances; after a tough season last season he has led the Sharks into the top six against the expectations of most pundits and they can now look forward to elite European competition next season.

"I see the quality and professionalism of the whole group on a continuous basis and I believe that we are extremely fortunate to have such a stellar list of coaches in Aviva Premiership Rugby."